As an artist, Vincent van Gogh was at the center of his times. What did simple village life in Etten-Leur look like around 1900? What did Van Gogh find so inspiring about it? Museum The Art of Living in the picturesque Sint Paulushofje - just a few hundred meters from Van Gogh Kerk - explains it all in detail.
Step into the farmers' room that takes you straight back to Vincent's time, when he made his first drawings in Etten-Leur. Visit the workshop of a wheelwright, tanner or blacksmith of the same era. Experience the care of psychiatric patients at the beginning of the 20th century and how psychiatry developed here. And fly along on the Wright Flyer. Meet Heerma van Voss, a sugar baron, who made the first motorized flight in the Netherlands a fact over the Klappenberg heath in Etten-Leur.
Saturday, May 21, 2022, the completely renovated museum in Etten-Leur opened its doors to the public. The former Regional Museum Etten+Leur is now called Museum The Art of Living. In the future, the museum will cooperate intensively with the Van Gogh Kerk Etten-Leur. With combined forces, the two places have the ambition to become a thriving cultural hotspot for lovers of Van Gogh, the time this world-famous artist lived in Etten and the heritage of our beautiful municipality of Etten-Leur.
Located in the Sint Paulushofje on the Markt, originally intended to house poor women but still inhabited to this day, is Museum Kunst van het Leven. Heritage expert Ineke Strouken talks about the process: "At the end of 2020, I was asked to give advice on the future of the Streekmuseum and the Van Gogh Kerk. Using the story of Van Gogh as a capstone, history, psychiatry and art could be linked together. You can see that reflected in this museum."
You enter the museum at the little store, De Grutterij. Through the old café, you enter a room that dwells on the history of psychiatry in Etten-Leur. There is also an area highlighting the first powered flight by an airplane over Dutch territory. That moment of history took place in June 1909. An absolute gem on the first floor is the Van Gogh Boerenkamer from the time the Van Gogh family lived in Etten (1875-1882). On the second floor, a modern and interactive presentation features mainly old crafts.
The renovated museum is fun for the whole family.
In addition to the museum showing everything about the different aspects of Etten-Leur's past, a place is also created for young and old. Interactivity is combined with physical activities and education for schools. Here you can think of presentations, open stages, workshops for schools, painting courses and much more. A real meeting place for everyone!
OPENING HOURS
Thu - Sat: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Walk-in until 4 p.m.)
ADMISSION PRICES
Adults - € 8,00
Youth up to 12 years - Free
Youth 13 to 17 years - € 4,00
CJP - Not applicable
Museum card - Free
